A new wave of leaks and a fresh Metalenz–UMC production deal suggest Android phones — including Samsung’s rumored Galaxy S27 Ultra — are about to get Face ID‑class secure facial recognition.
In the space of just ten days, a niche optics startup, a big semiconductor foundry, and a flurry of Samsung leaks have turned Android facial recognition from a long‑running disappointment into one of the hottest stories in mobile.
At the center of it all is Metalenz Polar ID, a new kind of face authentication that uses exotic “meta‑optics” and polarized light — and which is now officially in mass production. [1]
If the latest firmware digging is accurate, Samsung’s Galaxy S27 Ultra, due in 2027, could be the first big-name phone to ship with Polar ID built in, finally giving Android a realistic answer to Apple’s Face ID. [2]
What just happened: A week of big announcements and bigger leaks
Here’s how the story has unfolded leading up to today:
- Nov 10: BiometricUpdate reports that early test firmware for Samsung’s future Galaxy S27 Ultra references “Polar ID v1.0,” described as a polarized‑light authentication system with ~180 ms unlock times and stronger spoof resistance. [3]
- Nov 12–13: Metalenz announces a mass‑production deal with UMC (United Microelectronics Corporation), integrating Polar ID directly at the foundry level on 300 mm wafers, ready for high‑volume consumer devices. [4]
- Nov 14: Android Central publishes a deep dive explaining that Polar ID modules are now being manufactured on a 40 nm node and have already been demoed on a Qualcomm Snapdragon reference device. [5]
- Nov 16: Digital Trends highlights that Android phones could soon get a face unlock system that finally rivals Apple’s Face ID, pointing directly to Polar ID and the UMC production ramp. [6]
- Throughout November: PhoneArena, SamMobile, and Digital Trends all run stories on the Galaxy S27 Ultra leak, noting firmware references to Polar ID, a new “BIO‑Fusion Core” secure enclave, and support for Samsung’s ISOCELL Vizion front sensor. [7]
Put simply: the hardware now exists, it’s being mass‑produced, and Samsung is already testing it in firmware for a future Ultra flagship.
What is Polar ID, and why is everyone excited about it?
Polar ID isn’t just “yet another face unlock.” It changes the game in a few critical ways.
1. Meta‑optics and polarization, not just a selfie camera
Most Android phones today rely on 2D selfie camera face unlock. That’s quick and convenient, but easy to fool with photos or high‑quality masks, which is why many banking and payment apps refuse to trust it. [8]
Polar ID does something very different:
- It uses a special metasurface (meta‑optic) lens plus a near‑infrared (940 nm) illuminator, all in a thin, compact camera module. [9]
- Instead of just capturing brightness and color, it measures the polarization of light bouncing off your skin — essentially a “polarization signature” that’s unique to real human tissue and extremely hard to fake. [10]
- That single polarized image is combined with traditional face recognition algorithms to perform both identification and liveness detection in one shot. [11]
Metalenz says this allows Polar ID to spot even high‑end 3D masks and other spoofing tools as non‑human, closing one of the biggest loopholes in current face unlock systems. [12]
2. Smaller and cheaper than Apple‑style 3D face unlock
Apple’s Face ID uses structured light: an infrared dot projector, IR camera, and an array of sensors to build a 3D depth map of your face. It’s secure, but the hardware is bulky and expensive, which is why the notch / Dynamic Island still exists years later. [13]
By comparison, Metalenz claims Polar ID:
- Eliminates the need for a dedicated dot projector and separate depth module.
- Works with a single, low‑profile polarization camera plus one IR light source, shrinking the footprint significantly. [14]
- Comes in at a lower price point than structured‑light solutions, making it viable for more than just ultra‑premium phones. [15]
For OEMs, that combination — smaller, cheaper, and more secure — is the holy grail.
3. Works in the dark, in bright sunlight, and even with masks
Polar ID is designed to operate across tricky real‑world conditions:
- Near‑infrared imaging means it works in pitch darkness and in harsh outdoor light, where some depth systems struggle. [16]
- The polarization data can still distinguish skin even if you’re wearing glasses or a mask, making it more pandemic‑proof and winter‑friendly than many current face unlock methods. [17]
If those claims hold up in consumer devices, Polar ID could finally give Android users a secure face unlock that feels as dependable as Face ID — without the hardware penalty.
How did Android fall so far behind on facial recognition?
To understand why today’s news matters, it’s worth remembering how messy Android’s facial recognition story has been.
- 2017–2020: A handful of devices (notably Google’s Pixel 4) experimented with secure 3D face unlock using radar and IR depth sensors, but that approach disappeared in later generations. [18]
- 2020s: Most Android brands settled on purely camera‑based face unlock, which is fine for quick unlocking but is typically considered too weak for sensitive operations like payments or password autofill. Even Samsung’s flagships still lean on the fingerprint sensor for serious security. [19]
- Today: Many users have simply stopped trusting face unlock on Android, treating it as a convenience feature at best.
That gap has become more obvious as people use their phones to hold digital IDs, boarding passes, payment cards, and even government documents. Android has needed a Face ID‑class solution for years — it just didn’t have the hardware support.
The combination of Metalenz’s mass‑produced Polar ID module and leaks pointing to Samsung’s 2027 flagship strongly suggests that drought is about to end. [20]
Galaxy S27 Ultra: first Polar ID phone, or just a high‑profile test bed?
The juiciest part of the story is Samsung’s rumored role as Polar ID’s launch partner.
What the firmware leak actually says
Across multiple reports, leaker @SPYGO19726 claims that early test firmware for the Galaxy S27 Ultra includes: [21]
- References to “Polar ID v1.0” in the biometric security framework.
- A description of the system as a “polarized‑light authentication” method.
- Hooks tying the feature to a front‑facing ISOCELL Vizion sensor, a Samsung image sensor first publicly linked to Polar ID back in 2024. [22]
- A new secure enclave routine nicknamed “BIO‑Fusion Core,” presumably a hardened area of the SoC dedicated to sensitive biometric data. [23]
- Claimed unlock latency around 180 milliseconds, which would make it competitive with, or faster than, current high‑end fingerprint sensors. [24]
PhoneArena and SamMobile both stress that the leak comes from a relatively unknown source and that the S27 Ultra is still years away, so nothing is guaranteed. [25]
Why Samsung is a likely candidate
Even with that caveat, the dots line up unusually well:
- Metalenz previously announced that Polar ID had been integrated with Samsung’s ISOCELL Vizion 931 sensor, explicitly citing smartphone use cases. [26]
- The company now says Polar ID is running on Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon platform and is ready for “hundreds of millions” of devices. [27]
- Samsung’s Ultra line is exactly where it tends to debut major camera and security hardware.
So while it’s too early to call the S27 Ultra a lock for Polar ID, it’s fair to view it as the front‑runner testbed for the tech.
Metalenz + UMC: mass production is the real breakthrough
Leaked firmware is fun, but the more important milestone happened quietly in the supply chain.
Metalenz’s press materials and partner announcements over the past week confirm that: [28]
- Polar ID is now being manufactured on UMC’s 300 mm lines, leveraging a mature 40 nm process.
- Metalenz’s meta‑optic structures are directly integrated with the image sensor at the foundry, rather than built as a separate bulky module.
- The supply chain is qualified for volume, positioning Polar ID for rapid deployment across mobile, consumer electronics, and IoT devices.
This is what turns Polar ID from an impressive demo into something phone makers can actually ship — and ship at scale.
In other words, we’re not just looking at a “maybe someday” research project. As of mid‑November 2025, the hardware pipeline to put Polar ID in real Android phones is open and ready. [29]
How could this change your next Android phone?
If you’re thinking about when this will actually matter for you, here’s the realistic outlook.
2026: Quiet groundwork
The Polar ID modules are only just ramping, and Samsung still has to launch the Galaxy S26 family in early 2026. Don’t expect secure polarized‑light face unlock to suddenly appear across next year’s flagships — the timing is tight. [30]
What you can expect is more:
- Early prototypes and demo devices at trade shows.
- Android frameworks quietly preparing for new biometric classes beyond simple 2D face unlock.
- Other OEMs (Xiaomi, Oppo, Honor, etc.) evaluating Polar ID modules for late‑2026 or 2027 phones. [31]
2027 and beyond: Face unlock that you can actually trust
If Samsung really does ship Polar ID in the Galaxy S27 Ultra, that launch would likely trigger a broader Android shift:
- Payment‑grade facial recognition: more devices where you can authorize banking apps, password managers, and digital IDs with your face.
- Cleaner front designs: because the module is compact, OEMs can chase narrow bezels and tiny punch‑holes instead of large notches. [32]
- Mid‑range trickle‑down: Polar ID’s lower cost compared to structured light could eventually bring secure face unlock to phones well below the $1,000 mark. [33]
It’s unlikely that fingerprint sensors will vanish — users and regulators both like having multiple options — but in a few years, “face or fingerprint” on Android might finally feel like an equal choice, not a compromise.
Security and privacy: what we still don’t know
For all the hype, some big questions remain:
- On‑device vs. cloud processing: Modern standards strongly favor keeping biometric templates on secure hardware, never on remote servers. Metalenz’s partners will need to show clearly that Polar ID data lives inside a secure enclave and isn’t used for hidden profiling.
- Independent testing: Claims about catching “even sophisticated masks” sound great, but external labs and red‑team tests will have to validate them before governments or enterprises really trust the system. [34]
- Regulation: As facial recognition becomes more powerful and widespread, regulators in the EU, U.S., and elsewhere are tightening rules on what’s allowed. How Polar ID phones handle consent, data retention, and law‑enforcement requests will matter. [35]
For everyday users, the practical takeaway is simple: wait for third‑party evaluations before assuming any new face unlock system is bulletproof, no matter how impressive the marketing.
Quick FAQ: Polar ID and the Galaxy S27 Ultra
Will my current Android phone get Polar ID via a software update?
No. Polar ID depends on a dedicated polarization‑sensing camera module plus IR illumination. It’s a hardware feature, so you’ll need a new device that includes the module. [36]
Is Polar ID guaranteed to arrive on the Galaxy S27 Ultra?
Not yet. All current information comes from firmware references and leaker reports. Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything, and plans can change before a 2027 launch. Treat it as a strong possibility, not a promise. [37]
Is Polar ID more secure than Apple’s Face ID?
Metalenz suggests its polarization‑based system can detect lifeness and spoof attempts that structured‑light systems might miss, thanks to additional information about skin and materials. Independent, like‑for‑like testing against Face ID hasn’t been published yet, so any “more secure than Face ID” claim is still unproven marketing, not established fact. [38]
Will fingerprint readers go away if this works?
Very unlikely. Fingerprints remain cheap, fast, and well‑understood. The more realistic scenario is dual biometrics by default on premium phones: secure face unlock for convenience, plus an in‑display fingerprint sensor for redundancy and user preference.
As of November 17, 2025, the pieces for a true Android answer to Face ID are finally on the table: a compact, mass‑produced hardware solution in Polar ID, a major Android ecosystem hungry for better security, and Samsung apparently preparing a flagship showcase.
If everything lines up, the way you unlock your next Android phone could be about to change — not just cosmetically, but at the deepest level of how the camera actually sees your face.
References
1. metalenz.com, 2. www.phonearena.com, 3. www.biometricupdate.com, 4. metalenz.com, 5. www.androidcentral.com, 6. www.digitaltrends.com, 7. www.phonearena.com, 8. www.androidcentral.com, 9. metalenz.com, 10. metalenz.com, 11. www.biometricupdate.com, 12. metalenz.com, 13. www.phonearena.com, 14. metalenz.com, 15. metalenz.com, 16. metalenz.com, 17. metalenz.com, 18. www.androidcentral.com, 19. www.phonearena.com, 20. metalenz.com, 21. www.phonearena.com, 22. www.biometricupdate.com, 23. www.sammobile.com, 24. www.biometricupdate.com, 25. www.phonearena.com, 26. www.biometricupdate.com, 27. metalenz.com, 28. metalenz.com, 29. www.androidcentral.com, 30. www.biometricupdate.com, 31. www.androidcentral.com, 32. metalenz.com, 33. metalenz.com, 34. metalenz.com, 35. www.biometricupdate.com, 36. metalenz.com, 37. www.phonearena.com, 38. metalenz.com
